Wales’ young golfing sensation, Rhys Pugh, has added to his recent string of success with a victory at the Welsh Open Stroke Play Championships.
The 18-year old from Pontypridd, who is part of the Vale Resort’s men’s golf team, fought off competition from some of the UK and Europe’s top amateur players to take first position at the competition, held at the Royal Porthcawl Golf Club.
He finished an unprecedented 11-under-par over four rounds, beating his closest competitor, England’s Garrick Porteous, by four strokes.
Rhys said: “It was a tough competition against some really great players but to come in first at 11-under-par felt fantastic.
“My current goal is to make the 2013 UK Walker Cup team and I hope that this win will go some way to counting towards my selection.
“I also have to say a big thank you to the golfing team at the Vale Resort, who have always been really supportive throughout my career and allowed me to train whenever I need to.”
This is the latest competition win for Rhys, who started his golfing career with the Vale Resort’s Junior Coaching Programme in 2002.
Last year, he became the first ever Welsh winner of the European Amateur Championships and, as part of his prize, will compete as one of the few amateurs from across the world taking part in the British Open Championships in Muirfield, Scotland, this July.
Clive Coombs, golf manager at the Vale Resort, said: “We have been proud to support Rhys and follow his career ever since he joined our coaching programme as a golfing-mad eight year old.
“He now spends part of the year studying in East Tennessee in America as part of a golfing scholarship, but we are always his first port of call when he returns to Wales.
“Rhys’ achievements are an inspiration and I hope that they will encourage a whole new generation to pick up a club and start playing.”
As part of its commitment to supporting the golfing stars of the future, the Vale Resort is offering a special Junior Golfing Package. Open to young people aged between 8-18 years, it includes free access to the Vale Resort’s Academy Coaching Scheme, a copy of the Academy’s coaching manual and more than 50% off Junior Membership subscription fee for the first year.
For more information on the Junior Golf Programme, please visit www.vale-hotel.com/golf
